GREELEY - A civil complaint filed by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission has so far netted $10,000 penalties for each of four defendants accused of illegal discriminatory housing practices.

The civil case was heard in Weld County by Judge Daniel Maus, and the penalties were decided on Feb. 19. The defendants - Dean Juhl, Charles Brandt, Jessica Felicano, and JC Distinguished Finance LLC - were found to have violated Colorado's Fair Housing laws by targeting Hispanic homebuyers in the Greeley area. Each will pay a $10,000 penalty and were ordered to cease and desist all discriminatory and unfair housing practices in the state.

"Over the past three years, Colorado Civil Rights Division and Commission have really cracked down on predatory lending cases that discriminate against our most vulnerable homeowners," said Colorado Civil Rights Director Steven Chavez. 

Juhl pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2008, to theft and second-degree forgery in Weld County. He received a four-year deferred sentence, 30 days in jail, 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay restitution. Juhl's business partner Mark Strodtman was found guilty in November on 23 felony counts and sentenced to 31 years in prison.

The civil rights cases against Strodtman and his former assistant Flora Carmona are still pending.